Deleted Scenes of “Sincerely Claire”

And you thought only movies have deleted scenes? Not so. At the end of the edits for “Sincerely Claire” I was including my editor’s suggestions into the story. Until, I stopped dead in my tracks in an early chapter.

The story was going along at a perfect pace, the tension upping as the story unfolded. Then, in chapter 4? Kerplunk! It stalled. I would have had a hard time cutting out that scene back in the day but no more.

I’ve learn to kill the little scenes and keep going. I really liked the scene but I needed to cut words, so CUT and PASTE later and I saved it in the deleted scenes file.

DELETED SCENE: As the eldest, Claire knew that her mama depended on her to enforce the rules while in the berry patch. The most important rule came as she searched their picking area. “Watch out for rattlesnakes—and bears.”

Lolly screeched. “I don’t like those scary things.”

Only a few feet away from Lolly, Claire reassured her. “I know, honey, and we older ones will watch out for you. But, really, we’re not in the deep woods, so no worries about bears. Just snakes.”

In response, Lolly popped a berry in her mouth and grinned.

Claire picked, smiling at the sound of the berries dropping into her bucket. “Also, guys, pick the berries in the front first. You don’t want to trample on the vines and smash berries.”

“Sure will, Claire,” Grayson said.

Liam hollered from yards away. “Claire, you don’t need to boss us every single second. We’ve done this a lot of times and know what we’re doing.”

“Well, I haven’t noticed anyone squatting like me right now and searching for hidden berries.” Claire snorted a laugh “That’s another rule for berry picking.”

“Ow, ow.” Grayson rubbed his bare arm.

Pointing a finger at Grayson, she sighed. “You should always wear long-sleeved shirts.”

Grayson whined. “But it’s so hot.”

Claire swiped a stream of sweat off the side of her cheek. “I know.”

They picked berries for two hours and hurried back to the house to show Mama.

~^~^~

Claire and Mama were in the kitchen, the pans and buckets of berries on the counter. “I’m exhausted, Claire. You make the stew for supper.”

She gasped at Mama’s request, but the dark shadows around Mama’s eyes did not lie. She was exhausted. Her blood needed built up again. And Claire would tell Daddy what Mama needed. More medicine.

But for now, she had a challenge. “I’ll need a recipe, Mama.”

Mama opened her file card box. She pulled out a blank 3×5 card, found a pencil, and began to scribble. “I’ll write down the pie dough recipe and then the berry filling recipe.” She watched Claire. “It really is easy, Claire.” Her head bowed, Mama began to write the recipe for blackberry stew.

Claire looked over Mama’s shoulder and watched. It did seem easy enough. Mama stopped writing and wagged the pencil at Claire. “Now whatever you do, do not add water to the berries in the pot. When you cook the berries, they create their own juices and that’s plenty of juice for the stew.”

Mama handed her the recipe. “The stew will make a delicious and filling supper.” She pointed to Feather in his highchair where he ate berries. “Take care of Feather while I sleep.” Mama walked away.

Claire’s stomach churned. Not again, Lord, please.

~^~^~

With Feather’s last berry gone, Claire washed his purple-stained face and lifted him out of his chair. Wiggling in Claire’s arms, Feather grumped. He pushed against her as though he wanted down. She eased her almost one-year-old baby brother to the floor. He waddled on unsteady feet toward the kitchen cupboards, where he pried opened the lowest door. Squatting, he stuck his head inside, raising his diapered rump. He was so cute that Claire smiled. He pulled out a few pots and pans. Mama had said Feather walked sooner than any of her other babies.

Claire rolled her eyes, recalling that bit of news. Even though he was cute, Feather was a real handful, if anyone asked her. She gathered the pie dough ingredients, setting the flour, salt, lard, and a small cup of cold water on the table. As she worked, Claire of how delicious the warm stew would taste with an ice-cold glass of goat milk.

As she mixed and stirred, she smiled. She milked their new goat last night after Daddy taught her how. Today, she picked the berries to make the stew. Well, she and her siblings picked the berries. Enough to make a large pot full of stew to last a few days. She shaped the finished dough into a ball and placed it in the refrigerator to cool. She scooted Feather away from a cupboard door and found the perfect-size largest metal stew pot. Claire grinned. Sometimes it could be fun being in charge.